from the moths that come at night to eat the velvet lining of your organs
i never liked him kissing you never liked him
holding you
breaking your heart breaking what you are
because you’d never understand why
guarded hearts love the strongest despite you
despite disregard for boundaries
and when they kiss me you never say they shouldn’t

while i am the matriarch
i am no mother
or lover
because the little velvet that remains sheds in spring
from antlers grown and still
he kisses me like i had never told him

i do not love you

and melting winter rushes down to
sweep the does away.